Too Much Power For Roar

By: Ahmed | June 10th, 2009

Brisbane Roar’s perfect pre-season record has come to an end with a dramatic 1-0 loss at the Roadshow at Peninsula Power on Tuesday night.

A resilient Power outfit showed no fear in the face of their Hyundai A-League opposition and deserved the win as Luke Gauci delighted a parochial home crowd with a stoppage time winner.

With four of the Roar’s Young Socceroos playing their first pre-season match with the club, the signs were promising early when Luke Brattan, Isaka Cernak and Mitch Nichols combined to create the first chance.

The trio interchanged some crisp passing on the top of the area, before Nichols sent a low drive flashing past the post on 10 minutes.

The attacking midfielder came even closer just after the half-hour mark when he met a Robbie Kruse cross with a spectacular overhead kick that rattled the upright.

Luke DeVere made his own return from Young Socceroos duty known with a last-ditch tackle to deflect Royce Brownlie’s shot away from danger five minutes before the break.

The shot was a warning for the Roar, with Liam Reddy called into action twice in the final minutes of the half, first to smother Shaun Feuerriegel’s run towards goal, before pulling off a spectacular save to deny Brownlie’s swerving effort from distance.

Nichols, however, had the best chance of the half with a header from close range that went past the post after another dangerous Kruse cross.

A half-time reshuffle saw Matt Mundy push into midfield and the defender nearly set up the opening goal by sliding the ball through to Henrique, but Power ‘keeper Marko Radovanovic was swiftly off his line to quash the attack.

The home team countered with two chances of their own but both went off target.

After Peter Fairgrieve drove the ball over the bar, Brownlie chested the ball into the path of Feuerriegel who put his effort the wrong side of the post from close range.

Another lively performance from Henrique saw him come close to goal on 73 minutes when he latched onto a pass from Roar Youth defender Daniel Bowles but he couldn’t get over the shot from the edge of the area and it flew over the bar.

A minute later Brownlie had another effort for the hosts, regaining a defensive clearance and volleying towards goal, but the shot was too central and comfortable for Reddy.

Just as the match seemed to be heading for a draw a Power free kick was cleared to the edge of the area where Gauci pounced, hitting his volley to perfection and stealing the win.

The Roar’s next pre-season test takes place at Mackay on Saturday, when they meet North Queensland Fury for their first trial match against Hyundai A-League opposition.